The choice of 2009's opener was a double first for the festival. When the balloon(s) went up, it was first time an animation had been shown on the opening night and the first time Cannes' cineastes had ever donned 3D lunettes. And there'd be no cone of shame for Carl, Russell and Dug either because Pixar's spirit-filled Amazonian adventure wowed the festival, just as it would later dazzle the Academy. More than that, though, the choice of a 3D opener in the year when the format went supernova was proof that Cannes could ride the zeitgeist with the best of 'em.